On February 8, Japanese voters will head to the polls for their third national election in fifteen months. This is unusual even by Japanese standards, where national elections are held more frequently than in other democracies. In addition, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, the first female prime minister in the entire history of Japanese modern politics,…
Penn Global Seminars (PGS) are semester-long courses taught on campus that include an embedded travel component. Through PGS, Penn undergraduate students are able to take full advantage of essential global learning Penn Global Seminars (PGS) combine on-campus coursework with immersive travel experiences, offering Penn undergraduates the chance to engage in global learning, no matter their…
On January 20 and 21, 2026 Perry World House hosted a conference, bringing together scholars and practitioners to discuss the future of global development assistance. Given the shuttering of USAID and the decline of official development assistance, we convened experts to reflect on the successes and challenges of nearly a century of Official Development Assistance.…
Penn Washington is pleased to welcome Daniel Schneiderman as our new Director of Global Policy Programs. In this role, Daniel will lead the development and execution of Penn Washington’s global policy initiatives, connecting the University’s intellectual resources with policymakers and policy influencers working on pressing international challenges. Daniel arrives following a distinguished career spanning the…
In a Perry World House conversation, ‘Venezuela and U.S. Policy After Maduro,’ international affairs experts shared insights into oil, the Venezuelan economy, and what to expect next in the region. The United States’ deposition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after a military incursion removed the authoritarian leader but has also left many questions remaining about…
Huntsman senior Florence Onyiuke, who was named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar in November, sat down with Penn Abroad to discuss how her international experiences and research led her to the Rhodes Scholarship. Congratulations on this incredible achievement! What did you first do when you got the news that you received the Rhodes Scholarship? The final interviews and recipient…
Announces Transpacific and Asian Dialogue Fellows The Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations is pleased to announce the selection of the fellowship cohort for the Transpacific and Asian Dialogue on China, a new initiative designed to contribute to policy deliberations across the Asia-Pacific region over the novel and complex challenges posed by China’s rise…
Penn Global today announced the renewal of two Penn Global Research Institutes—the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance (GERA) and the Penn Global Documentary Institute (PGDI)—for new three-year funding cycles. The renewed support reinforces Penn Global’s commitment to offering transformative global research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, expanding community-engaged scholarship, and advancing solutions to major…
This message is to share an important update regarding USCIS premium processing fees that may affect petition and application planning for our schools and units. What’s ChangingThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a final rule adjusting USCIS premium processing fees based on inflation between June 2023 and June 2025, as authorized under the USCIS Stabilization Act. This…
On January 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of State announced that it will pause immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. According to the official statement, the pause is tied to a federal policy review related to public benefit usage and will remain in effect until further notice. It is important to highlight that: The suspension…